1 Kings 22:30-38

Lessons of the Battle.

After disposing of Micaiah by sending him to prison with hard fare as the reward of his faithfulness, Ahab and Jehoshaphat gathered their forces and set out together to fight for the recovery of Ramoth-Gilead. The events of the day show—

I. THAT PROPHECY MAY TEND TO ITS OWN FULFILMENT .

1 . Micaiah ' s words influenced Ahab ' s conduct .

(a) Note the subtlety of the wicked. Ahab's proposal to Jehoshaphat was ostensibly to give him the post of honour in commanding the army. This, too, may have suggested the use of the third person in speaking of himself. Ahab's real purpose was to divert from himself the fury of the battle; and probably he hoped Jehoshaphat might be slain. In that case his son-in-law would succeed to the throne of Judah, and he might be able so to manage him as to serve his own purposes.

(b) In all this we see the danger of bad company. We see it likewise in the sad fact that Jehoshaphat should become a party to a contrivance to falsify the word of God!

2 . They also influenced the conduct of the Syrians .

3 . Note a remarkable illustration of this principle in the zeal of Jehu in exterminating the house of Ahab (see 2 Kings 9:25 , 2 Kings 9:26 ; 2 Kings 10:10 , 2 Kings 10:11 , 2 Kings 10:16 , 2 Kings 10:17 ). Those who are "looking for," are thereby "hastening the coming of the day of God" (see 2 Peter 3:12 ).

II. THAT NEVERTHELESS THE HAND OF GOD IS IN IT .

1 . This was evident in the case of Ahab . The purpose of Ben-hadad, should Ahab have fallen into his hands, is not recorded. Would he return Ahab's compliment of releasing him with a covenant? Would he show Ahab how he ought to have treated him?

2 . This was also evident in the case of Jehoshaphat .